This book is a dumpster fire. I don't ever read cheating books, and for good reason. However, I saw a comment saying that maybe there was a reason why he cheated...that there were "extenuating circumstances". So I decided to go see for myself. Big mistake. This author is a misogynist, plain and simple. I am disgusted by what I read...go read the quotes I posted if you don't believe me.
Spoilers below, sorry, not sorry.
1. The first chapter 10 years ago, when she catches him in the act of fucking her BEST FRIEND. A graphic scene, something I'm sure really adds to the romance?? That is the only time this heroine shows any spine. She walks away from him...and she should have stayed gone.
2. When they are reunited... She is a PA and he's a CEO if a huge company, a conglomerate... and he doesn't even question mentioning that she's done nothing with her life. He shits all over her accomplishments immediately, what a great guy!!
3. Just how the author wrote these characters.... he cheated, and went on to become a big hot shot. He talks about bending women over his desk in his office almost immediately in his POV chapter. He is a cheater, a pig, just fucking disgusting. Meanwhile, the heroine is a lowly PA, who is having trouble making ends meet. Just the way that they spent those 10 years is enough for me to quit reading a story. Does this author hate women? I think so... let me elaborate.
4. The hero talks about protecting her and giving her a better life. He says, work for me and "you'll actually be doing something worth being proud of". I'm sorry, but are we women that weak? Is this book actually set in the 1800's? WHY DOES SHE NEED PROTECTION? And why is what she accomplished nothing to be proud of? Why did this author take such a shit on this heroine?
5. Their sex scene, that happens immediately when they are reunited... she says no several times... "Get off of me Maverick", "Wait", "We can't", Just during that time, he has dragged her into his office, has silenced her with his kiss, has started to undress her, and put his fingers inside of her. Does she capitulate? Yes. But she immediately regrets her decision after he FINISHES INSIDE OF HER WITHOUT A CONDOM. And so her betraying body syndrome made her do something she didn't want, but the hero also didn't stop when she repeatedly asked him to. WHAT A GREAT GUY, and let's not forget the STDs...since he was also fucking her best friend RAW in that first chapter. What are the chances that this guy even knows what a condom is?
6. He blames her for leaving him in his "time of need". Supposedly her leaving after catching him railing her best friend was just as bad as what he did. She hurt him so much, the poor baby. He doesn't EVER consider her feelings. Oh, and he goes on to date that best friend exclusively. LOL.
7. His "excuse" for cheating ... he lost his twin brother. He was devastated, so broken. He needed to fuck hard, and she rejected him once and he forced himself on her, and he felt soooo terrible the next morning. He decided that he couldn't get his needs met with her anymore, so he CHOSE HER BEST FRIEND. Like, in what world is this forgivable?? I don't care how much grief he was suffering from, he didn't talk to her, he didn't drink himself silly or turn into a drug addict, no...he fucked someone. Because we all know that men can't keep their dicks in their pants, right? They need to let out the anger and hurt by FUCKING SOMEONE HARD.
8. She didn't stay celibate, but clearly wasn't even close to what the hero was. He was a manwhore all the way, not able to count all his conquests.
The sad thing is, I could go on and on about how fucked up this book is. It's full of sexism, misogyny and cringe lines that made me want to throw my phone across the room. And I only read the first four-ish chapters, then skipped around to his explanations and other fun parts that made me want to throw up. I'm going to need to look at cute kittens and puppies to recover from the disgust that this book has me feeling.